KAMLOOPS — Until two days ago, I thought I had figured out the column. It was to revolve around denial. The news that poured down the media pipe last week following the inauguration ceremony south of the border offered plenty of reasons to delve into the topic.

KAMLOOPS — There is no better way to start the day than by stepping outside for a brisk walk. In my case, that involves the dog, too. Our destination on most mornings is Peterson Creek. For weeks now the park has been a winter wonderland, sheltered under beautiful patches of blue or, at times, ominous-looking grey clouds that brought more snow. To have it so close is something I am grateful for.

Five years ago when my family and I relocated to Kamloops someone told me that unless you’ve been here a couple of decades or longer, you’re just not ‘Kamloopsian’ enough. It made me feel a bit uneasy and it made me look twice at the people I met, wondering who is Kamloopsian enough and who isn’t.

Every now and then I come across a quote that resides in my thoughts for days. Such was the case of the words I later discovered to belong to David Orr, professor of environmental studies and politics (quite the combination), writer, and activist.

KAMLOOPS — Today, on the first day of the year, I had the sweet chance to hold an 11-day-old baby for a few minutes. It’s a form of therapy you could say. Blissfully unaware of the hubbub around her, the baby slept, and her tiny face with occasional newborn grimaces was mesmerizing.

KAMLOOPS — It was after 11pm on Christmas Eve that my husband and I took the dog out for a walk. It was quiet. Magic of a different kind. Snow crunched under our feet as we walked, the dog sniffed this way and that, and Christmas lights shone beautifully on so many houses along the way.

I spent almost ten minutes learning what hatchimals are. Not having cable television keeps us out of the loop, but we like it that way. It was strangely unsettling to learn about the silliness of hatchimals though. They are toys yet they are introduced as a companion that ‘feels’ and the programmed noises are there to prove it. Children are supposed to ‘care’ for them by rubbing them this way and that, tapping and tilting them until the glowing eyes shine a certain colour. True to life indeed (not).

KAMLOOPS — Yesterday morning was a magical one. Snow and temperatures below 10 for a change after days of almost minus 15. Puppy and I found our way to Peterson Creek and, aside from snow, we found exuberance. It’s perhaps a stretch to attribute that to a silent landscape partially lost in snow, but it was there. We followed our noses up a trail as if on some treasure hunt.

KAMLOOPS — A couple of days ago, a CBC news headline caught my eye. It was about the myth of Santa and whether it is a beloved tradition or a damaging lie. A study concluded that perpetuating the Santa myth damages children’s trust in their parents and ultimately the kids’ mental health may suffer too. Other psychiatrists agreed that the myth can seriously affect children who already have trust issues.